obstacles

If I was told

"Run to that tree and back"

I would pick tree "A".

What about you?

This morning we had our boys out

training for their "Big Race".

"Run Mommy!!"

"OK, run to that tree and back to me.

On your mark, get set, go!"

And they ran, and ran and ran.

They made it to tree "W"

before we yelled for them to turn back.

I think they would have ran straight through

that creek,

tagged tree "Z"

and ran happily back

if they wouldn't have been stopped.

And they did this over and over.

They did not complain

they didn't quit

I never heard "I can't".

In fact, I have NEVER heard those words come

out of their mouths.

If there is something big guy can't accomplish on his own,

I hear

"Help you, mommy."

When I approached him about entering a race

he did not respond with

"Oh, I can't do that!"

or

"I don't want to, I am too slow."

He was immediately up for the challenge.

He met it with excitement and optimism.

He is working hard for his big day.

OK, so he doesn't really comprehend what will happen on that day,

but

to me, that would be even MORE scary!

But not him,

"Excited mommy"

is usually his response when I bring it up.

Oh, and "where did those squirrels go?"

and we are side tracked......

I was shocked today when he finally found the courage

to go up and down

this big slide

all by himself.

On his tummy

straight into the rain water

and sand

at the bottom.

 His buddy is a little different.

He is fearless.

He loves to climb and go fast.

I didn't think much of it when I snapped these pictures

at the park this morning.

Just some buddies hanging out.

Then tonight I attended my weekly

Bible Study.

We are only on our third of ten week series.

But it is intense.

And through the study

I envisioned these pictures of them.

And this one of me.

I was definitely NOT having positive thoughts.

I wanted to quit.

Probably 18 out of 20

of the obstacles

I looked at and thought~

"I can't do that!!"

And the voices in my head saying,

"Just go around,

you are too weak

too fat

too short.

What made you think YOU

could do THIS??"

But those other voices

won the race.

"Your leg is only stuck up to your waist,

at least your face is out of the water!

and

Your 3 biggest fans are waiting for you

just around the corner....

make them proud,

they LOVE you~

no matter what!"

As adults

why do we have

so much holding us back?

Why those heavy chains

negative voices

self criticism?

When we are told to run

why don't we just RUN?

We ask

"How far?

What is at the end?

WHY?"

Wouldn't it be great to be free like a child?

To not worry about

how I look

if I am too slow

if I will win.

Our study is teaching us how to

"Break Free"

from those things holding us back.

For the entire first week of the study

I couldn't stop singing

"Break Free From the Chains"....

by Wilson Phillips.

A few weeks ago someone said something to me

that negatively impacted me

for an entire week.

Her one short sentence

threw me into a tail spin.

I thought about it constantly.

It brought negative energy to everything

I did

all

week.

I almost quit things

because of her

and what she said.

Then I saw her again

a week later.

I didn't want to talk to her.

She approached me with arms wide.

Embraced me

"I have been thinking about you all week!"

she said.

I thought,

"Oh yeah, I have been thinking about you too!"

She continued with

"Thank you so much for sharing what you did.  I have been praying for you all week. You are a strong and special woman.

Thank you so much for being here."

GULP!

My heart sank.

I wasted all my energy on negative thoughts

for a WEEK

on a woman who had been praying

for ME.

Wow, what a wake up call.

I realized then and there

that I must break free from

these negative thoughts.

There are other chains

around me that also need broken.

But through perseverance I know I will overcome.

I will run when asked.

I will not question.

I will be positive in the face of obstacles.

"Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people".

Isaiah 57:14

It will be a very humbling journey.

But I know in the end

my heart will be free.

Just as a child's.

Then I can relax

"On the beach Mommy!"

not worried about obstacles ahead.

Oh,

and I am ready to sign up for

next years

"Mud Run"!

Crazy......

love, the rockinryans

whatcha doin' ?

cookin' in the kitchen

eatin' watermelon

for the first time

lovin' it!

spendin' cooler mornings

outside

swingin'.

mama losin' her mind

runnin' 2 miles in mud

and over obstacles.

lovin' rockinryans

Herzogfun

The next morning we headed out to the Herzogfest.

My parents asked us what "Herzogfest" meant.

I don't know, it just sounds like fun!

My sister and I hit the ground early,

running in the 5k.

I thought it would be good practice for the

big race.

And I somehow forced asked her nicely

to torture herself enjoy an early morning run

with her sis.

It went well, but I never realized

Victoria Kansas had so many hills!

Our excited kiddos met up with us for the parade.

Big guy is really getting the hang of this

collecting candy stuff!

Not sure who enjoyed the park the most....

First face painting!

Attack of the grand-sons.

I think they are still adjusting to the

tackling, running, loudness

of boys!

Time for a little polka!

So,

big guy will not

ride on a children's train,

bounce in a moon bounce

or run wild on his own.

But,

he didn't even flinch

when he held

and pulled the trigger

of a gun

bigger than him....

this boy is full of surprises.

I had never heard of

pink heals kansas.

But they were at the fest

and are a wonderful cause.

Visit their page for more information.

My name is on that pink fire truck!

We thought the kiddos would crash

after the fest,

but they were wired

so,

swim time!

The next day did catch up with them.

They were exhausted,

so we just took it easy

with some games

and cuddles.

I think we all had good naps

that afternoon!

love, the rockinryans

Carnival!

My family came to visit

for a fun packed weekend.

We started at a Carnival

sponsored by our Church.

Ummm....

are you related to Santa?

 Big Guy was not into the train,

or bouncers.

But Sydney loved it all!

He has always been afraid of these things.

He ran in and out.

Long enough to get a pic.

That's it!

Sydney was a wild woman,

bouncing with the big kids!

But, you will be surprised to see what he wasn't

afraid of doing tomorrow...

They both enjoyed

the games

and junk food.

And we all enjoyed being outside

in the not-so-blaring heat!

Big guy cracks me up because

he is so wild and loud at home.

But out and about at public events

he gets nervous

and quiet.

It takes him a while to warm up

to overwhelming surroundings.

He didn't want to participate

in much at the carnival

but he is still talking about

"The Carnival!"

a week later.

At least I know he did enjoy it

since he keeps talking about it!

The next day.... 

Herzogfest.

Can you guess what he did

that completely threw us off?

Something we thought would scare him....

he loved!

love, the rockinryans



5 months

You are one awesome 5 month old!

You are talking up a storm,

laughing at everything.

Always smiling.

We can not sit in Church anymore

not because you are crying.

But because you think it is social hour.

You are singing with the music~

that's great, but you continue into the sermon!

Then you are talking with everyone sitting around you.

So, we are sitting in the nursery

until you can go to Sunday school with your brother.

Now that you have discovered food

that is all you want.

You are still in love with your big brother.

You love to grab his ears, hat, nose

whatever you can get!

 And the two of you are starting to enjoy

wrestling together.

 Your little body is getting strong.

You can sit in the tripod position

until you reach for something too far away.

You are still laid back,

when you fall you don't care.

You are beginning to show signs of wanting to crawl.

Those arms are strong,

now those knees are trying hard to push up the other half.

You are so much fun.

How did we get so lucky

to call you ours?

Can I slow time down.... please?

love, the rockinryans